A few minutes later Mr. Barclay climbed on board and went down into the cabin and all over the vessel with them before he made any remarks. At length he turned to the boys as they stood by the rail. "You have done a very smart thing and I don't think you'll have any reason for regretting it," he said pointedly. "This is a good set-off against the failure at the other end. Jake got in with the message and we started as soon as I'd had a talk with him. Fortunately, we were able to creep along through the sounds and it's scarcely likely that any of the smugglers can have seen us." "But what has become of this vessel's crew?" Frank asked. "I don't know," replied Mr. Barclay. "We'll probably ascertain something about them later." "Do you expect to corral the rest of them to-night?" Harry broke in. "It's possible," said Mr. Barclay with a trace of dryness. "The first thing, however, is to beach this vessel, and then you and Jake must get off in the sloop. There's a good deal to be done, and I want to run the steamer back out of sight up the inlet as soon as it can be managed." He called some of his companions on board, and when Frank and Harry sat down to an excellent meal in the steamer's cabin they heard the men heaving the schooner's anchor. CHAPTER XXIX THE RAID Daylight was breaking when the boys ran into the cove near the ranch after a quick passage and saw Mr. Oliver standing on the beach. "I've been looking out for you rather anxiously," he said when he had shaken hands with them. "Has Barclay been successful?" "No," said Harry, "not altogether. Some of the dope men got away at the first place where they landed." Mr. Oliver looked rather grave at this. "How many of them escaped?" "I don't know exactly. The messenger said several. Besides, the crew of the schooner abandoned her, and it seems likely that they got ashore. That would make two parties who may have joined each other." "Ah!" said Mr. Oliver; "it's a pity in various ways! How did Barclay get on at the other end?" "I can't tell you. He didn't expect to make the seizure until night when the dope men's friends would be waiting for the schooner to run in, and he sent us off in the afternoon." "It was wise of him," Mr. Oliver answered. "In the meanwhile your aunt hasn't cleared breakfast away, and as I expect you're ready for it we'll go in at once." During the meal they gave him an outline of their adventures, to which he listened thoughtfully. Then he said: "You had better lie down and get a sleep. We'll have another talk about it later on." "I think I'd rather work," said Frank. "We got some sleep in turns last night, and I don't feel like lying down. The fact is," he added hesitatingly, "we've been doing something or other so hard since we went away that I don't think I could leave off all at once. I feel strung up yet and I'd rather keep busy."